"In other words, the Pope in Rome is building momentum for the so-called Crusade?"
In the audience hall of Vladimir Palace, Rostislav looked at the businessman below who was dressed as a Latin businessman, and he said this.
The merchant put the turban hanging from his head on his side and bowed to Rostislav again.
"Yes, Lord Rostislav, the current situation in Rome is very fanatical. Even those people who are indifferent to war and politics are even fanatically discussing jihad, and this fanaticism is spreading to the entire Italy, and many towns in Northern Italy
It is already full of people discussing jihad, and the opposition between the emperor and the pope is no longer the focus of people's attention."
As always, the two sides of the audience hall were filled with fully armed Russian soldiers. At the head of these soldiers was Rostislav Vladimirovich sitting on the solemn bench. His fingers were now
It's resting on the forehead.
"Thank you very much for your message. Businessman, please go down and get your reward. My manager will give it to you."
Rostislav sent away the businessman below, who also bowed again and then bowed.
As the trade in Russia becomes more and more prosperous, the footprints of Russian merchants are also increasing. Now there are many merchants passing through the Strait of Constantinople to trade in the Latin world, and these merchants will bring some with them when they return.
Information, for which Rostislav was happy to pay.
The door to the audience hall was closed, and Rostislav looked at Domnar, the captain of his personal soldiers, who was standing on the right side, "Is this the last audience?"
"Yes, this is the last one."
Domhnall's familiar answer was a conversation they had had countless times. Rostislav always liked to ask this question after an interview.
"Speaking of which, what day is it today?" Rostislav asked a question that looked a bit idiotic.
"February 27, 1094, my Grand Duke." Although Domhnall had doubts in his heart, he immediately answered the Grand Duke's question. He had long learned to cut off his unnecessary curiosity.
"Then let Leo come over. I have some new arrangements."
"yes."
While the janissary captain went to summon the current mayor of Kiev, Rostislav was thinking on his throne, pondering the news he had received.
Rostislav was not surprised at all about the Crusade, because he knew very well that this expedition was bound to happen regardless of whether Alexios wrote to the Pope or not.
What prompted this expedition has always been the internal crisis in the Latin world. Abnormal natural disasters have been going on in the West for several years. Now the entire Western society is in turmoil, and there are starving people everywhere struggling to die.
For the Western world, the turmoil caused by such abnormal natural disasters is very huge. Due to the regular mild westerly winds, it is difficult for the Western world to encounter such natural disasters. Natural disasters are a very unfamiliar word to the people.
Various ideological trends are emerging, heretical sects that intend to resist the rulers are also gaining supporters, apocalyptic speech is becoming popular, and everything is exuding a very disturbing atmosphere.
For the rulers, this increasingly powerful high pressure must find a way to release it, and eventually the inevitable explosion will overturn everything.
Not to mention various other unstable factors, nobles who are ready to move, merchants who want to trade, and churches who hope to strengthen their authority... All factors are prompting the preparation of the expedition, and the great era that is about to change the West is coming.
.
For Ross, this matter looks far away, but if it is done well, it can also benefit from it. For example, Rostislav remembers that they made a lot of money by transporting pilgrims and crusaders between the East and the West.
Pen.
"My Grand Duke, I have arrived. What are your orders?"
Just as Rostislav was thinking about the benefits he could get from it, Kiev Mayor Leo was already standing in front of him.
Leo can no longer see much trace of the Greeks on his body. He is completely dressed and dressed as a native Rus. Since the Grand Duke of Rus took over Constantinople, he has had the last knot in his heart about that land.
Being completely untied, he wholeheartedly embraced the land where he had spent most of his life.
Now Leo's hair and beard are white, and with the cane and fur hat, he looks like a Ross elder. The only thing that can reveal his foreign identity is his name.
"I want you to go to the imperial capital and ask Emperor Alexios for something, so that he can allow Ross's large fleet to cross the strait and head to the Mediterranean when needed."
"As you command, my great lord."
Leo didn't ask any questions at all. As people from Constantinople's bureaucracy, they had already acquired preliminary skills in the way of silence.
But he did not leave next, but informed Rostislav of something.
"My Grand Duke, there is something I must report to you. Emperor Alexios sent a letter saying that he wishes to modify the mercenary contract with Rus."
As the mayor of Kiev, Leo was also the diplomatic attaché to the empire, so it was not surprising that he had such information.
"Oh? What's going on? Let's talk about it."
Rostislav became interested immediately. This mercenary contract has made him a lot of money over the years. Now that Alexios is going to revise it, he must be concerned about it.
"His Majesty Alexios said that he hopes to stop providing mercenaries to the imperial capital after the agreed batch of mercenaries arrive in March. After repelling the Turkic invasion, the Greeks believe that there will be a long time to come.
There are no major wars at this time, so the need for mercenaries is not that urgent."
"Really? This is really a pity, but since His Majesty Alexios said so, let's just carry it out."
It was not surprising that Rostislav made such a judgment about Alexios. According to the information he had obtained before, in the battle to repel the Roma Turks, those Turks suffered a very fatal blow and suffered huge losses.
As expected, the Turks will not have the energy to invade in the next few years.
As for the threats in the west, the Serbs and the Paulists have been dealt with. Now Bertin's son is a guest in the imperial capital, the Paulists were burned to ashes on the racecourse, and the nomads have made many attacks on the Eastern Empire after the solar eclipse.
Due to many fears and those failures, it would be at least another ten years before they had the courage to launch another invasion.
Alexios's judgment was very correct. Although he did not know that a group of Crusaders would come for an expedition, it did not affect anything. Historically, he turned these Crusaders into tools for empire expansion.
And it is not surprising that Alexios, whose current situation is much better than in history, can do this again.
So Rostislav was very sorry but didn't say much, because he knew that Alexios's choice was correct, and he also thought that Alexios did this to reduce the influence of the Varangian Guards in the empire.
The Rurik label on the Varangian Guards is too heavy. This team can be said to be controlled by the Kiev Palace, but it is also commanded by the Greek Emperor. This force can be relied on when needed, but it is not needed now, so
You have to start weakening it.
Now the Greeks' own army was brought out by Alexios, which was enough to cope with conventional warfare.
Alexios was not his unclear grandson Manuel later. He knew the bad effects of letting a large number of foreigners occupy high positions. The basis of his rule was after all the Greek nobles, not those outsiders.
Thinking of this, Rostislav couldn't help but laugh. He really deserves to be Alexios.
Just when Rostislav was about to send Leo away, Leo spoke again.
"One more thing, Grand Duke, recently a Bagration girl came to Rus under the escort of his escort. She is the posthumous child of King George. She escaped the massacre of Monomakh, but was killed just last month.
After discovering it, she could only come to Ross due to Monomach's pursuit."
Among the imperial affairs that Leo was responsible for, Georgia was also included.
"If she is old enough, let her study at Vladimir Academy. If she is not old enough, then give her an annuity."
Of course Rostislav understood what Leo was implying, so he made an extremely generous allocation. Such a claimant could always be used, not to mention that it was a girl, so there was too much room for maneuver.